Hayden's blitz powers Australia home

Matthew Hayden powered Australia to a comprehensive 9-wicket victory against Bangladesh with 6.1 overs to spare in the Super Eights match of ICC Twenty20 W

Written by NDTVSports

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Cape Town:

Matthew Hayden powered Australia to a comprehensive 9-wicket victory against Bangladesh with 6.1 overs to spare in the Super Eights match of ICC Twenty20 World Cup at Cape Town on Sunday.

Chasing 124, Hayden put Australia on fast-track with a blazing start first up along with Adam Gilchrist. The hefty opener dealt only in boundaries and sixes and stormed to his second half century of the tournament off just 32 deliveries.

The explosive duo put up a massive 104-run partnership before Gilchrist was run out for 43 off 28 deliveries.

The job was almost done when Ricky Ponting walked out in the middle. Hayden remained unbeaten on 73 runs which included nine boundaries and three sixes.

Earlier, Brett Lee's late charge restricted Bangladesh to 123 for eight after being put in to bat by Australian skipper Ricky Ponting. After the initial restrain, which was totally unlike Bangladesh, their batting could never gained any momentum.

Though Bangladesh had plenty of wickets to make a late charge but Lee's hat-trick, the first in Twenty20 internationals, made sure the damage was complete.

It was a solid start by openers Tamim Iqbal and Nazimuddin but a somewhat quiet one by Bangladesh's standards.

The batsmen scored just 40 runs with only five boundaries to boost of in the first seven overs as compared to the previous match where the batsmen went on a fast track right from the word go.

The Australian bowlers managed to keep the breezy Bangladesh openers in check and Mitchell Johnson struck in the seventh over to send Nazimuddin back when he was caught by Ricky Ponting at cover for 11 runs.

Iqbal was going great guns before he fell to Michael Clarke for 32 in an attempt to accelerate the scoring rate, Ponting again taking a well judged catch in the covers.

Aftab Ahmed and Mohammad Ashraful then got together for a brief 17-run stand before the latter fell to Stuart Clark for 7 runs, Bangladesh at this point placed at 82 for three in 13.1 overs.

Three overs later, Brett Lee took the first hat-trick in Twenty20 internationals as Shakib Al Hasan (16), Mashrafe Mortaza (0) and Alok Kapali (0) hurried back with Bangladesh reduced to tatters.